System and method for providing real-time tracking of items in a distribution network

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods of processing items. Items in a distribution network or process may be scanned at every handling point in the distribution network, and each scan is recorded in a central repository. The scan information can be used to generate real-time access to data, analytical tools, predictive tools, and tracking reports.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS

Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claimis identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the presentapplication are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57. Thisapplication is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/309,747,filed Jun. 19, 2014, and claims the benefit of U.S. Application No.61/837,047, filed Jun. 19, 2013, U.S. Application No. 61/936,239 filedFeb. 5, 2014.

BACKGROUND

Field

This disclosure relates to a providing real-time information about itemsin a distribution network.

Description of the Related Technology

Items are received, tracked, and distributed using distributionnetworks. As items are travelling through the distribution network, suchas a delivery network, the status of each item at any time may not beavailable. Thus, operators of distribution networks, such as, e.g., theUnited States Postal Service, or others, may desire to provide real-timetracking and full item visibility as items move throughout thedistribution network. By being able to track item status in real-time, adistribution network can realize an improvement in operation,efficiency, and distribution analytics, and provide improved newproducts and services for users of the distribution network.

SUMMARY OF CERTAIN INVENTIVE ASPECTS

A system providing visibility, or real-time information, of each item atany time provides a distribution network or operator of a distributionnetwork additional analytical capabilities and improved serviceperformance measurements. Improved service performance measurements canenable users, shippers, mailers, or any other entity using adistribution network to understand how the distribution network isperforming with regard to the user's distribution items. Improvedperformance analytics also allow the operator of the distributionnetwork to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, or other problems inthe distribution network.

Item visibility can refer to the ability to know and track the status ofeach item within a distribution network. Full visibility of distributionitems provides additional capabilities for predictive workloadanalytics, including predicting incoming item volumes and predicting theresources necessary during a certain period of time. These predictiveworkload analytics can increase efficiency and realize savings inoperating costs. Item visibility also provides item owners, shippers,recipients, and others with access to information regarding each item inthe distribution network in real time. The data gathered in a fullvisibility system can be aggregated, manipulated, and used fordiagnostics, metrics, and to offer additional services for users of thedistribution network.

In some aspects, a system for real-time tracking of items comprises adata repository in communication with a central processor, the centralprocessor controlling input and output from the data repository; aplurality of item processing devices, each item processing devicecomprising: a scanner configured to scan a computer readable code on anitem being processed in the item processing device to generate scandata; and a communication module configured to communicate with thecentral processor and provide the scan data to the central processor forstorage in the data repository in real-time; at least one module incommunication with the central processor, the at least one moduleconfigured to request, receive, and manipulate the scan data from thedata repository in real-time, and to generate information in real-timebased on the manipulated scan data; and an interface in communicationwith the module, wherein the interface is configured to provide accessto the generated information in real-time.

In some embodiments, the scan data comprises information indicative ofthe computer readable code and information indicative of the scanner.

In some embodiments, the information indicative of the scanner comprisesscanner type, scanner location, and scan time.

In some embodiments, the at least one module comprises an inventorymodule configured to generate a real-time, or near real-time inventoryof items at a facility based on the received scan data.

In some embodiments, the at least one module comprises a predictiveworkload module configured to generate an expected inventory of items ata facility based on the received scan data.

In some embodiments, the data repository is in communication with aplurality of distribution network systems, wherein the plurality ofdistribution network systems are configured to provide networkinformation to the data repository.

In some embodiments, the plurality of distribution network systemsinclude a transportation information system configured to providetransportation resource utilization information.

In some embodiments, the module comprises a predictive workload moduleconfigured to generate an expected inventory of items at a facilitybased on the received scan data and based on the transportation resourceutilization information.

In some embodiments, the plurality of distribution network systemsincludes an item processing equipment system configured to provide itemprocessing equipment information.

In some embodiments, the module comprises a predictive workload moduleconfigured to generate an expected inventory of items at a facilitybased on the received scan data and based on the item processingequipment information.

In some embodiments, the module is a performance measurement moduleconfigured to analyze service performance based on the scan data.

In some embodiments, the system further comprises an access portalconfigured to provide user access to the scan data or the generatedinformation based on the manipulated scan data.

In some embodiments, the access portal is configured to allow selectiveaccess to scan data from items associated with a particular user.

In another aspect, a method of tracking a plurality of items comprisesreceiving scan data for the plurality of items, the scan data generatedfrom computer readable identifiers on the plurality of items; storingthe scan data in a data repository; manipulating, using a processor,scan data stored in the data repository to generate item information inreal-time or near real-time; and communicating the generated iteminformation.

In some embodiments, the scan data comprises information indicative of ascanner used to generate the scan data.

In some embodiments, the information indicative of the scanner comprisesscanner type, scanner location, and scan time.

In some embodiments, the generated item information comprises areal-time inventory of items at a facility.

In some embodiments, the generated item information comprises anexpected inventory of items at a facility.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises generating apredictive workload for the facility based on the expected inventory ofitems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of an embodiment of a system forreal-time tracking of distribution items.

FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of an embodiment of the inputs into asystem for real-time tracking of distribution items.

FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart depicting an embodiment of item processing inthe real-time tracking system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part thereof. In the drawings,similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless contextdictates otherwise. Thus, in some embodiments, part numbers may be usedfor similar components in multiple figures, or part numbers may varydepending from figure to figure. The illustrative embodiments describedin the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to belimiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may bemade, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matterpresented here. It will be readily understood that the aspects of thepresent disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated inthe Figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in awide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitlycontemplated and made part of this disclosure.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for providing fullvisibility of items in a distribution network. This may includeproviding real-time tracking capability of each component in adistribution network. For example, real-time tracking is provided foreach item in the distribution network, as well as for components of thedistribution network, such as trays, containers, carriers, trucks,trains, planes, crates, boxes, bags, and many other components of thedistribution network. The present disclosure also relates to systems andmethods of using real-time tracking to provide service performancemeasurement and diagnostics, analytical capabilities, improved inventorycontrol and management, provide information to third parties, to gatherand process information, and to provide a greater range of services tocustomers. The term “real-time” may mean that data is available to auser, either internal or external, as soon as it is available orgenerated. The term “near real-time” may mean that the data is availableshortly after it is available or generated, such as when a piece ofequipment stores scan information for a time prior to making theinformation available. For example, a camera or scanner on itemprocessing equipment may batch images or scans for a specified period,such as after a set number of scans, or after an elapsed time, such asevery 30 seconds, every minute, every 15 minutes, or every hour.

In order to provide the above capabilities, the real-time tracking datamust be stored. In a distribution network with many items, the storagecapability must be large in order to receive, store, and provide accessto the stored real-time data. In some embodiments, the system includes acentral data storage repository in communication with a powerfulanalytical engine with real-time processing capabilities.

A distribution network may comprise multiple levels. For example, adistribution network may comprise regional distribution facilities,hubs, and unit delivery facilities, or any other desired level. Forexample, a nationwide distribution network may comprise one or moreregional distribution facilities having a defined coverage area (such asa geographic area), designated to receive items from intake facilitieswithin the defined coverage area, or from other regional distributionfacilities. The regional distribution facility can sort items fordelivery to another regional distribution facility, or to a hub levelfacility within the regional distributional facility's coverage area. Aregional distribution facility can have one or more hub level facilitieswithin its defined coverage area. A hub level facility can be affiliatedwith a few or many unit delivery facilities, and can sort and deliveritems to the unit delivery facilities with which it is associated. Inthe case of the United States Postal Service, the unit delivery facilitymay be associated with a ZIP Code. The unit delivery facility receivesitems from local senders, and from hub level facilities or regionaldistribution facilities. The unit delivery facility also sorts andstages the items intended for delivery to destinations within the unitdelivery facility's coverage area.

The terms mail, mailpiece, and others terms are used to describeembodiments of the present development. These terms are exemplary only,and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to mail,mailpiece, or postal applications.

As used herein, the term item may refer to an individual article,object, agglomeration of articles, or container having more than onearticle within, in a distribution system. The item may be a letter,magazine, flat, luggage, package, box, or any other item of inventorywhich is transported or delivered in a distribution system or network.The term item may also refer to a unit or object which is configured tohold one or more individual items, such as a container which holdsmultiple letters, magazines, boxes, etc. The term item may also includeany object, container, storage area, rack, tray, truck, train car,airplane, or other similar device into which items or articles may beinserted and subsequently transported, as are commonly used indistribution systems and networks.

FIG. 1 depicts a high-level block diagram of an embodiment of a systemfor real-time tracking and analysis of items in a distribution network.

In some embodiments, a distribution entity, such as a commercialcarrier, the United States Postal Service, or other distributor, trackseach item throughout the distribution process. To allow for real-timetracking of items in a distribution network, each item has a uniqueidentifier, such as a computer-readable code. In some embodiments, thecomputer readable code may be a barcode, such as an Intelligent MailBarcode® (IMb™), an RFID tag, a QR code, an alphanumeric code, or anyother desirable computer readable code, which uniquely identifies theitem and/or encodes information relating to the item. Eachcomputer-readable code may be scanned by processing equipment, carrierswith mobile scanners, personnel in the distribution network facilities,transportation providers, or by other entities within the distributionchain. Scan information, which can include the computer readable code,is transmitted to and stored in a central repository.

In some embodiments, a real-time tracking system may be termed aninformed visibility (IV) system, where visibility is used to describeavailability of information about an item at each time or point in adistribution process. An informed visibility system enhances efficiencyand responsiveness by creating a comprehensive and integrated solutionthat provides real-time access to data, reports, and analytical toolsthat will improve mail tracking, service and scan performancemeasurement and monitoring, as well as provide the ability to performmail inventory management, predictive workload analysis and diagnoseservice performance issues.

In some embodiments, the predictive workload system can identifypredicted periods of higher volume and of lower volume for a facility,transportation resource, and the like, and can provide alerts whichenable an internal or external user to adjust resources, personnel,etc., accordingly.

An IV system provides functionality in several areas. For example, IVsystem provides comprehensive data repository, which includes anoperational data store and a data warehouse which will be described ingreater detail below.

Referring to FIG. 1, a distribution network comprises an IV or real-timetracking system 100. The real-time tracking system 100 comprises a datawarehouse 110. The data warehouse 110 comprises one or more processorsand storage capabilities. The data warehouse 110 may be hosted on or usea high density supercomputing platform. The high density supercomputingplatform may use a transactional record processing system, to gainreal-time or near real-time scan, tracking, and other information,including performance metrics and business intelligence through fast,intensive, and efficient data-mining of data stored in the datawarehouse 110. The data warehouse 110 can use a memory centric database(MCDB) solution as all or part of the data warehouse 110, which is areliable system with high availability and scalability. The high densitysupercomputing platform can use both the SGI UV1000 and SGI UV2000hardware frames which combine blade technology with very high solidstate density and wide native bi-sectional bandwidth including routednon-uniform memory access (NUMA) interconnecting architecture. The datawarehouse 110 hardware can expand both horizontally (clustered) andvertically (large single system images with very large globallyaddressable CPU/memory structures) virtually indefinitely in multipleaxes, I/O, CPU, memory, and storage. The supercomputing system of thereal-time tracking system 100 may comprise a supercomputing system suchas that described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/083,396, filedApr. 8, 2011, and entitled “LOCALIZED DATA AFFINITY SYSTEM AND HYBRIDMETHOD,” the entire contents of which are herein incorporated byreference.

The data warehouse 110 provides a single data repository of scan eventand diagnostic data that supports real-time item tracking, service andscan performance, and analytics. The data warehouse 110 includes acomputer-readable storage medium and provides a single data repositoryof item (e.g., letter, and flat mail visibility) events and serviceperformance data. It includes all handling events, nesting associations,item attributes, electronic documentation, transportation information,appointments, and aggregate item visibility data (e.g., item inventory,predictive workload, and service score aggregates). The data warehouse110 receives and stores a significant volume of daily transactional datareceived through the system interfaces. Specific examples oftransactional data volume are provided elsewhere herein. The datawarehouse 110 has the capacity to meet long-term storage needs, and isdesigned for high availability and redundancy of all critical data. Thedata warehouse 110 may comprise hardware to support storage, processing,and transmission of 100 terabytes (TB) of information or more. The datawarehouse 110 also processes, manipulates, and provisions receivedand/or stored data in accordance with the requirements of the real-timetracking system, which may be encoded in system operating instructions.

The data warehouse 110 may store three basic categories of data, and canstore these types of data in different forms, databases, etc., as neededto support operation of the real-time tracking system 100. For example,the data warehouse 110 may store transactional data, reference data, andaggregate data. Transactional data may include item tracking data andservice performance information that is needed for real-time processing,and must accommodate a high volume of item and handling event data. Thereference data may be stored in a reference database which storesinformation required for business rules, logic, and other real-timetracking system 100 data, which does not change frequently. For example,the reference data can include item processing equipment maintenanceschedules and capacities, facility layouts, carrier routes,transportation routes, sorting plans, etc. The aggregate data may bestored in an aggregate database which can be used to support functionalmodules and application modules, and includes data which has beenaggregated, manipulated, or otherwise used, and is based on data fromthe transactional data store.

In some embodiments, the data warehouse 110 is the single datarepository for all item scan data that supports item tracking; serviceperformance measurement; service performance monitoring, alert, anddiagnostics; scan performance measurement; mail inventory management,and analytics for predictive workloads. In some embodiments, the datawarehouse 110 is a computer readable storage medium, such as a memory.The memory may be structured as a database or other similar structure tocontrol, sort, and efficiently process data for storage and retrieval,such as a memory centric database system. In some embodiments, the datawarehouse 110 may be housed in a single location. In some embodiments,the data warehouse 110 may be distributed across one or more facilitiesnetworked together. In some embodiments, the data warehouse 110comprises a processor which is configured to control all the functionsand features of the data warehouse 110. The processor is configured toreceive and execute operating instructions, to receive and sendcommunication requests to other processors, to provision data inreal-time or near real-time, and perform other desired features of thereal-time tracking system 100.

The data warehouse 110 receives, stores, and processes all scan datafrom processing equipment in a processing facility, handheld or portablescanning devices. The scan data for all items, e.g., mailpieces,letters, flats, parcels), bundles, handling units (such as trays andsacks), and containers (such as pallets and other containers) isreceived into the data warehouse 110, processed for real-time or nearreal-time transmission and analysis, and/or stored. The data warehouse110 receives, stores, and processes information regarding all the itemsin the distribution network. The data warehouse 110 also receives,stores, and processes all necessary electronic documentation informationin support of item tracking; service performance measurement; serviceperformance monitoring, alerts, and diagnostics; scan performancemeasurement; mail inventory management, and analytics for predictiveworkloads. The data warehouse 110 receives, stores, and processes allmanifest information, load events and nesting relationships, in order tomaintain the relationship between nested piece to bundle, piece tohandling unit, handling unit to container, container to truck, etc. Thedata warehouse 110 receives, stores, and processes all unload events andde-nesting relationships, in order to verify the relationship betweennested piece to bundle, piece to handling unit, handling unit tocontainer, container to truck, etc., and in order to modify associatedscan events to nested pieces and handling units based on verifiedde-nesting data. The data warehouse 110 receives, stores, and processesall associations between equivalent/corresponding barcodes, which mayrepresent the same item. The data warehouse 110 receives, stores, andprocesses transportation data, in order to support item tracking,analytics for predictive workloads, and service performance diagnostics.In some embodiments, the data warehouse 110 receives, stores, andprocesses carrier operation scan events from carrier scanning devicesincluding piece-level scan information, in order to maintain therelationship between handling unit to carrier and to associate scanevents to carrier-possessed objects, such as generating an impliedout-for-delivery scan for all carrier-possessed handling units and theirnested pieces. The data warehouse 110 receives, stores, and maintainsdelegation profile information to include by/for relationships and otherdata delegation relationships, in order to support delegation of itemtracking data.

The data warehouse 110 receives, processes, and readies data andinformation for reporting in real-time or near real-time. The datawarehouse 110 receives all data necessary to support item tracking,service performance measurement, service performance monitoring, alerts,and diagnostics, scan performance measurement, mail inventorymanagement, and analytics for predictive workloads shall be maintained.In some embodiments, scan data can be maintained for a minimum number ofdays, e.g., for 120 days, in support of legal requirements for reportingservice measurement, and aggregate and transactional data can bemaintained for a minimum of 2 years for historical analysis andreporting purposes.

The data warehouse 110 comprises a communications module 115, which isconfigured to receive the communications from all the various systems,servers, modules, computers, and facilities of the distribution networkwhich provide input, receive output, or are otherwise connected to thereal-time tracking system 100. The communication module 115 iscontrolled by a processor, and information received via thecommunication module is stored in the data warehouse 110. Thecommunications module 115 provides wired communication pathways for somecomponents of the real-time tracking system 100. The communicationsmodule 115 also provides connections to various wireless networks, suchas internet connections, mobile data networks such as cellular networks,wireless local and wide area networks, and any other desired wireless orwired communication method.

The real-time tracking system 100 ensures that data is secured and onlyprovisioned to permitted parties. The real-time tracking system 100maintains or provides access through referential data sources,information on facilities, operation codes, carrier routes, deliverypoints, transportation, etc., in order to support reporting andanalytical capabilities. The real-time tracking system 100 is configuredto store and maintain operating plans (documented policies andconfigurations) in order to support predictive workloads and diagnosticcapabilities; is configured to store and maintain holiday andnon-processing day information in support service performancemeasurement; to determine the scanning sequence for items, in order toknow which items had contact with each other and in order to monitor ifan item is being run in the proper sequence for sorting.

The real-time tracking system 100 includes functional modules 120 whichsupport or provide the system functionality described herein. Thefunctional modules 120 can be programs which run on the computer(s) ofthe real-time tracking system, or can be embodied on separate computerswhich are in communication with the real-time tracking system 100.

Item tracking provides users with the ability to track items, such asmailpieces, bundles, trays, containers, vehicles, etc., through thedelivery process. Analytics for predictive workloads provides apredictive workload tool that enables facilities to project and forecastinbound item volume, item types, and equipment types needed forprocessing, in order to more effectively plan for staffing, staging, anddelivery of items.

A tracking module 122 interfaces with the data warehouse 110 to provideand obtain real-time or near real-time tracking information for any itemin the distribution network. For example, the tracking module 122 tracksthe status and/or location of each item in the distribution network. Asthe data warehouse 110 receives item scan information, the trackingmodule 122 can request or receive information regarding item tracking.The tracking module 122 may be used to track an individual item or agroup of items, grouped according to shipper, an identification code,destination, geography, delivery date, item owner, or any other desiredgrouping. To facilitate the grouping of items for tracking, the computerreadable codes on items may include an identification code, or otherinformation regarding destination, delivery time, shipper, etc. Thetracking module 122 can be accessed by a user through an interfacedescried below, in order to track items in the distribution network inreal-time, or to provide a snapshot of the location of each of theuser's items within the distribution network.

An Inventory module 124 is one of the functional modules 120. Theinventory module 124 provides an inventory of all items in adistribution network based on various criteria. For example, inventorymodule 124 can provide an inventory of items in a given geographicallocation, such as a regional distribution facility, a unit deliveryfacility, a vehicle, a carrier's bag, or any other desired area.Inventory module 124 compiles item inventory information by interfacingwith the data warehouse 110 and requesting appropriate item information.For example, each facility, node, container, etc. has a uniqueidentifier which is known to the real-time tracking system, and isassociated with items which are located in that particular location. Theinventory module 124 can request item information for each item which isassociated with a particular location, container, and the like. Thisinformation can be provided on a real-time or near real-time basis, orcan be provided upon request by a requesting entity via portals 140 inthe real-time tracking system 100.

Predictive workload module 126 provides predicative information of iteminventories, equipment needs, personnel needs, or other processing ordelivery needs based on current and predicted item inventories.Predictive workload module 126 interfaces with the data warehouse 110and the inventory module 124 to predict inventories, workloads,personnel, etc. The predictive workload module 126 is configured toprovide predictive information for the distribution network as a whole,or for any component thereof. For example, a regional distributionfacility includes item processing equipment, which require certainstaffing of human resources in order to operate efficiently. Thepredictive workload module 126 can operate automatically, or on demand,such as when requested by facility personnel. The predicative workloadmodule 126 is used to obtain, from the data warehouse 110, informationfor each item which is en route to the regional distribution facility,based on electronic manifest records, scan information, routinginformation, etc. The information can include item type, item size, itemvolume, item weight, special handling requirements, item class ofservice, and any other desired and stored information.

The predictive workload module 126 obtains current facility inventoryfrom the inventory module 124, or directly from the data warehouse 110.The predicative workload module 126 also generates, receives, orotherwise obtains historical inventory information. For example, thepredictive workload module 126 obtains or generates historical inventoryinformation. The historical inventory information may includeyesterday's inventory or processing volume, the last few days ofinventory, inventory or volume for the same day of the week on theprevious week, inventory or volume from the same day the previous year,or any other desired historical inventory or volume levels. Thepredictive workload module 126 then predicts what the incoming inventoryfor the facility will be for a given period or at a given time. Thepredictive workload module 126 also stores or can obtain facilityequipment information, including the types of equipment at a facility,the number of operators required for each piece of equipment, the numberof transportation vehicles available at the facility, and other similarfacility information.

Based on all the foregoing information, the predictive workload module126 then generates predictive information regarding which pieces ofequipment should be operated, how many operators will be needed tooperate the equipment, how many vehicles will be needed to transport theitems, when the processing runs should start and end, and any otherdesired information. These predictive workload data can be used tooptimize run time on equipment, schedule only needed operators,personnel, vehicles, and the like. In some embodiments, the predictivedata can be provided far enough in advance, that staffing decisions canbe made and work schedules generated, such as 2-3 days in advance, aweek in advance, or any other desired time.

The predictive workload module 126 may analyze transportation capacityand usage of various transportation resources and compare with incomingitem inventory to develop a “hold that truck” instruction. For example,if a truck leaving a facility is not at capacity, and the real-timetracking system 100 identifies incoming items which can be loaded ontothe truck, and if there are no items on the truck whose service class ordelivery date would be jeopardized, the predictive workload module 126may instruct facility personnel to delay the departure of the truck aset number of minutes or hours. This can facilitate more efficient usageof resources without jeopardizing delivery schedules.

The predictive workload module 126 may also provide a predictiveinventory of items at any facility or unit within the distributionnetwork at any time. The predictive inventories may be generated inreal-time, and updated as inputs to the real-time tracking system 100change. The predictive inventories can be provided to users, internaland external to the distribution network in real-time, via userinterface described elsewhere herein.

Upon receipt of an item into the distribution network, either via anelectronic manifest or physical receipt, the predictive workload module126, can predict all handling events for the item through delivery. Aseach items handling events are predicted, the real-time tracking system100 can see the predicted path for each item, and identify any potentialefficiencies or issues as the item moves through the distributionnetwork.

A service performance module 128 provides a way of monitoring andreporting real-time service information to internal and externalstakeholders, allowing for immediate and better-informed decisionmaking. The service performance module 128 interfaces with the datawarehouse 110 and requests specific item information according to thedesired performance evaluation or inquiry. The service performancemodule 128 can provide alerts to mailers, shippers, facility personnel,and the like regarding pending and upcoming inefficiencies inprocessing. The service performance module 128 also provides diagnosticswhich allow a distributor, carrier, shipper, or other organization toidentify and diagnose causes of service performance loss, through use ofanalytical tools and reports. The service performance module 128provides the capability to predict and alert personnel to potentialissues that may impair service performance. The service performancemodule 128 enables monitoring and reporting metrics regarding scanpercentages of items, trays, and containers at each stage of the maildelivery process.

In some embodiments, the real-time tracking system 100 provides serviceperformance measurements (SPM) which enable a distributor, carrier,shipper, or other entity to determine the time it takes for an item tomove from origin to destination compared to the service standard. SPMmay also include real-time indications an alerts of service performanceissues, and enable diagnosis of service performance issues. In someembodiments, SPM includes providing alerts of impending service issuesto users of the system, before the issues actually occur. The impendingservice issues can be determined or predicted based on item informationand handling event information. For example, if the real-time trackingsystem 100 predicts a given mail volume for a certain facility at acertain time, but the real-time tracking system 100 also realizes thatinsufficient item processing equipment 212, personnel, or transportationresources are available, the real-time tracking system 100 can providean alert to users of the real-time tracking system 100 to take actionbefore the certain time arrives, and resources are insufficient tohandle the incoming or outgoing items from the certain facility.

In some embodiments, the service performance module 128 provides serviceperformance diagnostic (SPD) tools. SPD tools are configured to enabledistribution network personnel to monitor service performance, identifypotential service performance risks, and determine the root cause ofservice issues when they arise. The SPD tools can be available on awebsite, a dedicated computer, a mobile application, or any otherdesired platform, and may provide updates, such as periodic email, SMSmessaging, real-time alerts, and the like containing service performanceinformation. The SPD tools have access to the comprehensive andreal-time item tracking data and service performance data for all itemsvia the service performance module 128 and accessible from the datawarehouse 110. In some embodiments, diagnosing service performancedetermines an item cycle time—the elapsed time between two handlingevents—obtained from the data warehouse 110. The service performancemodule 128 can calculate and store the item cycle time between adjacenthandling events and designated handling event pairs. The serviceperformance module can calculate cycle time statistics to characterizethe distribution of item cycle times and the corresponding on-timeperformance of the items.

In some embodiments, the service performance module 128 provides scanmetrics (SM). SM is the measurement of the visibility of item handlingevents. The service performance module 128 enables an entity to monitorand report metrics regarding handling event visibility for all items,handling units, container objects, etc. SM is calculated for each item,handling unit, container object, or other entity in the item life cycle.For each handling event, and the service performance module 128 cangenerate and display charts/graphs that compile scan percentages. Thisview of scan metrics provide effective monitoring and control of scanperformance, and allows for improvements in operational performance.

In some embodiments, the service performance module 128 calculates twomain scan counts: 1) captured and 2) expected. A captured scan count maybe defined as the number of items that received a scan or handlingevent. A separate count will be tracked for expected and unexpectedcaptured scans. An expected scan count is defined as the predictednumber of items or mail objects that should receive a handling event; anunexpected scan count is defined as the number of mail objects thatreceived an unpredicted handling event. Two formulas for Scan MetricScores are as follows:

$\frac{{Captured}\mspace{14mu}{Scan}\mspace{14mu}{Counts}\mspace{14mu}{for}\mspace{14mu}{Expected}\mspace{14mu}{Scans}}{{Expected}\mspace{14mu}{Scan}\mspace{14mu}{Count}} = \begin{matrix}{{Scan}\mspace{14mu}{Metrics}\mspace{14mu}{Score}} \\{{Excluding}\mspace{14mu}{Unexpected}\mspace{14mu}{Scan}\mspace{14mu}{Counts}}\end{matrix}$$\frac{{Captured}\mspace{14mu}{Scan}\mspace{14mu}{Counts}\mspace{14mu}{for}\mspace{14mu}{Expected}\mspace{14mu}{Scans}}{{{Expected}\mspace{14mu}{Scan}\mspace{14mu}{Count}} + {{Unexpected}\mspace{14mu}{Scan}\mspace{14mu}{Count}}} = \begin{matrix}{{Scan}\mspace{14mu}{Metrics}\mspace{14mu}{Score}} \\{{Excluding}\mspace{14mu}{Unexpected}\mspace{14mu}{Scan}\mspace{14mu}{Counts}}\end{matrix}$

Tracking and service performance measurement business rules andcalculations can process the information provided by the data warehouse110 in real-time, to provide up-to-date end-to-end visibility andservice level information based upon item handling events. Additionalprocessing logic process the information for service performancediagnostics, item inventory, predictive workloads, visibility metrics,and customer reporting and analytics system functionality.

The real-time tracking system 100 also includes application modules 130.The application modules 130 provide a means of viewing, reporting,customizing, and accessing the business intelligence of the item datathat is collected and processed by the data warehouse 110 and functionalmodules 120. The application modules 130 may include businessintelligence (BI) module 132. BI module 132 provides real-time access todata, standardized and customizable reports, and other features througha unified, common system interface designed for ease-of-use. The dataprovided by the BI module 132 may be provided by or retrieved from thedata warehouse 110, or from one or more of the functional modules 120.BI module 132 provides internal and external users with a single pointof access to all of the information about the mail that is processed bythe functional modules 120 of the real-time tracking system 100. BImodule 132 may be accessible via portals 140, which may be userinterface on various platforms or devices such as a website, a mobileapplication, a dedicated terminal, a computer accessible over a wired orwireless network in communication with the data warehouse 110.

In some embodiments, the BI module 132 allows a user to generate acustomized user interface, which can be available to a user's customersvia a website or mobile application owned or provided by the user. Inthis case, the BI module 132, in conjunction with provided APIs, canallow a user to access data from the data warehouse 110 for use on or inthe user's own systems. The BI module 132 can also provide a user with aconfigurable dashboard, reports, queries, and alerts. The BI module 132is configured to allow the user to analyze, manipulate, or trend dataregarding the user's items, in whatever way the user wants.

The user interface may be in communication with the functional modules120, application modules 130 and the data warehouse 110 via portals 140.The user interface may be generated by the distribution network or by athird party, developer, user, or another entity desiring to access thereal-time tracking system 100. The user interface allows customizationof system preferences, including options to set delegation access inprofile settings, manage subscriptions, navigate to other distributor,carrier, or shipper webpages, and view favorite queries and reports. TheBI module 132 may have a dedicated user interface which can also provideaccess to a data analytics module 133, a data provisioning module 134,and an enhanced data access (EDA) module 135.

The data analytics module 133 provides an advanced analytics engine toprocess mail information for complex functions such as prediction,optimization, modeling, simulation, and forecasting. Using data from thedata warehouse 110, the analytics engine allows users of the system tocustomize views of data for operations analysis and planning, such aspredictive workload analysis, network and delivery optimization, costanalysis, and revenue assurance.

In some embodiments, the data analytics module 133 can compare a shipperor mailer's item inventories from their submitted electronic manifeststo actual incoming items from the mailer or shipper. The data analyticsmodule 133 can determine a mailer or shipper's manifesting accuracy, andprovide this information to the shipper or mailer. Manifesting accuracycan also be used as an input to the predictive workload module 126 forpredicting incoming mail volume and for workload determinations. Forexample, if a mailer or shipper has an accuracy of 95%, or if the maileror shipper routinely provides more items than are on the manifest, thepredictive workload module 126 can take this information into accountwhen determining a predictive item inventory for a facility whichreceives the mailer or shippers items. The predictive workload module126 can add a calculated quantity of items to the predictive inventory,or can build in time to the predictive workload to account for theerrors between the electronic manifest and the actual received items.

The data provisioning module 134 provides multiple methods of sharinginformation about the items and information available in the datawarehouse 110 and functional modules 120 with internal and externalusers of the system. This includes access to standard applicationprogramming interfaces (APIs) and an environment for development of newservices that provide customized queries, reports, and views of itemdata to users of the system, hosted within a distributor, shipper, orcarrier environment. The data provisioning module 134 can be used tocontrol access to the information and to provide information to entitieswith appropriate access. In some embodiments, the data provisioningmodule 134 can provide an entity access commensurate with the entity'sinterest, ownership, or permissions in accessing the information.

For example, a shipper or mailer may request access to item information.For privacy concerns, and for other reasons, the distribution networkmay not desire to share information about every item in the distributionnetwork, but only about items which were sent by, owned by, or otherwiseassociated with the shipper. To illustrate, a mailer may be assigned amailer ID, which is encoded in computer readable codes on items. Whenthe mailer requests access to item information via the portals 140, thedata provisioning module 134 may request, via a user interface, themailer ID. Upon receipt of the mailer ID, the data provisioning module134 authorizes access to and provisions data for items which werescanned or identified using a computer readable medium encoding themailer's mailer ID. In this way, the mailer only has access to itemswhich the mailer has mailed, and on which the mailer is identified.

In some embodiments, the real-time tracking system can associate itemsto a mailer or shipper based on an equivalent or corresponding computerreadable code. For example, a mailer or shipper may provide an itemhaving a computer readable code, such as an IMb™ (such as that used bythe United States Postal Service), encoding a mailer ID or shipper ID.the distribution network may re-label the item for ease of processing,uniformity, or for other reasons. When the distribution networkre-labels an item, the re-label code is provided to the real-timetracking system 100 by the piece of item processing equipment whichperformed the re-labeling. The real-time tracking system can store anassociation between the originally provided IMb™ and the re-labeledcomputer readable code. In this way, if either code is scanned as theitem moves throughout the distribution network, the item information canbe updated in the data warehouse 110, and the real-time tracking systemcan associate the item with the mailer or shipper.

In some embodiments, a recipient may request access to the real-timetracking system to view the status, type, and quantity of items intendedfor delivery to the recipient. By imputing a recipient identifier, suchas the recipient's mailing address, or other unique identifier, the dataprovisioning module 134 can request information from the data warehouse110 through one or more of the functional modules 120, regarding eachitem intended for delivery to the recipient.

In some embodiments, a shipper, such as a commercial retailer, an onlinemarketplace, or any other entity may wish to access the visibilityinformation for items in which they have an interest. The dataprovisioning module 134 may request item information for each item whichwas sold by the retailer, processed through the online marketplace,originated at a particular location, or any other desired information.The data provisioning module 134 is configured to identify each itemassociated with the criteria provided by the shipper, retailer, onlinemarketplace, etc. by using a unique identifier, an origin address, ashipper identification, or any other unique identifier which is providedby the entity or which is encoded on the item.

The data provisioning module 134 may also comprise security featureswhich require authorization or authentication of a user or entity beforeitem visibility information can be provisioned or provided to the useror entity.

The EDA module 135 provides internal and external users with access to anon-production instance of the Data Analytics, BI, and Data Provisioningtools in a dedicated environment. Within this environment, authorizedadvanced users of the system can extract item visibility data from thedata warehouse 110 to create customized reporting objects. These objectscan be saved in this environment, with users having the ability to“publish” and share their reports within a community of other EDA module135 users. EDA users, such as the mailing industry, with acost-effective means of analyzing item data with minimal technologyinvestment. The EDA module 135 can be an interface with an entity whichallows an authorized entity to access the data stored in the datawarehouse 110, and provides a suite of APIs which enable entities tocreate applications and/or programs for accessing the data generated bythe real-time tracking system 100. The EDA module 135 can be embodied ona computer having a memory and a processor. The EDA module 135 can beembodied on the supercomputing system which comprises the real-timetracking system 100. The EDA module 135 is in communication with thedata warehouse 110. The EDA module 135 can provide a “sandbox”functionality for third-parties, developers, or other interestedentities to access and manipulate the data stored in the data warehouse110. Sandbox functionality can provide sample item data, or actual itemdata from the data warehouse 110, and provide an interface forthird-party developers to access sample or actual data to understand howto access, retrieve, request, provision, manipulate, and otherwise usedata from the data warehouse 110, which knowledge can be implemented bythe third-parties and developers for use in applications, web sites, andother programs. These third-parties and developers may makeapplications, web sites, or other programs available to consumers,users, mailers, shippers, or other entities who want to track items,receive business intelligence, receive performance data, generatepredictive workload data, and the like.

The application modules 130, including the BI module 132, are accessiblevia portals 140, some of which may be external or available to users andcustomers of the distributor, shipper, or carrier, and some of which maybe internal, or available to groups, units, personnel, or other entitieswithin the distributor, shipper, or carrier.

The real-time tracking system 100 described herein provides capabilitiesfor item tracking, analytics for predictive workloads, serviceperformance measurement, service performance monitoring, Alerts, andDiagnostics, Scan Performance Measurement, Data Provisioning andReporting, and Informed Visibility Interfaces.

Data Provisioning and Reporting provides access to standard and ad-hocreports, as well as reports based on customer preference, that draw froma single source of data transmitted and stored in real-time. InformedVisibility Interfaces provides interfaces that provide access to asingle source of information to support mail tracking, service and scanperformance, and analytics. Provides users with the ability to choosethe type and amount of data to receive, which provides greaterflexibility in reporting and in integration with other customer systems.Improved interfaces also provide users with the ability to manage thedelegation of access to data by other users, to manage subscriptions,and to access performance dashboards.

In some embodiments, the real-time tracking system 100 is configured totrack an item throughout the item life cycle, or, in other words, ateach stage in the item processing stream. During processing, packaging,transportation, and in other stages of the item life cycle, the item maybe put into various groups, aggregations, containers, trays, or handlingobjects having a similar characteristic, such as type, origin,destination, etc. In order to track each item throughout the item lifecycle as they are put into various containers, groups, etc., thereal-time tracking system 100 creates nesting and de-nestingassociations and operations. To illustrate, an item is received in aprocessing stream. A handling unit is created when items are placed intoan empty tray, tub, container, sack, or other handling device, and aunique label is applied to the handling device. A handling unit may be aphysical unit containing more than one item. A handling unit may also bea logical unit employed in the data warehouse 110 to identify a nestingassociation. When items are put into the handling unit, nestingassociations are created between the items and the handling unit. Forexample, each item is nested into the handling unit by associating aunique identifier for each item with an identifier on a unique traylabel. In this way, as the tray is processed and scanned, the datawarehouse 110 receives handling information for each item nested in thehandling unit. The handling unit, with its nested items inside, can besorted, processed, or staged.

In some embodiments, a handling unit may be put in a composite object. Acomposite object may be an object which receives more than one handlingunit, such as a container, truck, airplane, train car, etc. Duringhandling, the handling unit can be nested into a composite mail object,such as into a container. The container is tracked through the lifecycle using a unique identifier on the container, such as a containerplacard. As handling units are nested into the container, nestingassociations between the handling units and container are created. Thecomposite object is handled, for example, by being transported, loaded,or unloaded. So, too are the nested handling units and the nested itemstracked as their associated composite object is handled. Each time ahandling unit or composite unit is scanned, the data warehouse 110receives the scan information. Any nesting associations for itemsassociated with the scanned handling unit or composite unit areidentified, and record information for the items are updated inaccordance with the scan information. For example, if a composite unitis scanned on intake into a regional distribution facility, each datarecord for item having a nesting association associated with thecomposite unit is updated to reflect the intake location of the regionaldistribution facility. In this way, the progress of each item, such aseach individual mailpiece, can be tracked throughout the distributionprocess, even though each item is not individually scanned at eachlocation or facility.

When the composite object nears its destination, the handling units arede-nested from the container, and the nesting association between thehandling unit and the container ends. The handling unit continues to beprocessed as it makes its way toward its destination. When the handlingunit has served its purpose of transporting the nested mailpieces, theindividual items are de-nested from the handling unit, and the nestingassociations between the handling unit and mailpieces end. The itemscontinue to be processed as they make their way toward theirdestination. After all of the items are de-nested from the handlingunit, the unique tray label is removed from the tray, tub, container, orsack. The associations are only valid for the time period in which thenested item or handling was physically inside the handling unit orcomposite mail object.

FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of inputs into the system for real-timetracking 100 of distribution items. The inputs depicted in FIG. 2provide the information to the real-time tracking system 100 whichenable the real-time tracking system 100 to provide the functionality,features, and services described herein.

The real-time tracking system 100 receives an input from an enterpriseserver 201. The enterprise server is a regional server which receivesinputs from a variety of sources, and acts as a single point ofinformation for these sources to the real-time tracking system 100. Theenterprise server 201 receives scan information from a regional server202, which is connected to mobile scanners 203. The mobile scanners 203may be in wired or wireless communication with the regional server 202.The mobile scanners 203 may be carried by a delivery entity, such as acarriers. The mobile scanners 203 are configured to scan computerreadable codes on items, and transmit the computer readable codes andany encoded information to the regional server 202. The mobile scanners203 may also be enabled with GPS functionality. The mobile scanners 203may also transmit the GPS location to the regional server 202 inreal-time, or near real-time. This enables the real-time tracking system100 to track each carrier or vehicle as it moves through thedistribution network.

To illustrate, a carrier, such as a mail carrier or other deliveryentity, may arrive at a unit delivery facility, and receive a mobilescanner 203. The carrier can use the mobile scanner to scan each itemwhen the item is put on a truck. This scan information is received intothe mobile scanner 203, and is communicated in real-time, or near realtime to the regional server 202. The regional server 202 receives scaninformation from a plurality of mobile scanners 203, and communicatesall the scan information to the enterprise server 201. The enterpriseserver 201 communicates the scan information to the real-time trackingserver 100, where it is stored, processed, manipulated, or otherwiseutilized by the data warehouse 110 or other components.

As the carrier delivers each item to each destination, the carrier scansthe item using the mobile scanner 203, and indicates the item isdelivered. The delivery scan information is communicated to thereal-time tracking system 100 as described above. Each enterprise server201 may receive inputs from a plurality of regional servers 202, andeach regional server may receive inputs from a plurality of mobilescanners 203. In some embodiments, each carrier may have a uniquelyidentifiable mobile scanner 203. In some embodiments, the carrier mustlog in or otherwise identify him/herself to the mobile scanner 203. Theidentity of the carrier may also be communicated to the real-timetracking system 100.

The enterprise server 201 may also receive inputs from surface/airmanagement systems 204. The surface/air management systems 204 may beoperated by the distribution network, or may be third party servicesprovided by air transport services to coordinate surface or airtransport of items from various sources or distribution networks. Thesurface/air management systems 204 may provide information regarding thetransport vehicles onto which items are loaded, estimated pick-up times,and delivery schedules for air or surface transport equipment and/orvehicles to the real-time tracking system 100 via enterprise server 201.

A visibility server 210 provides item scan and visibility information tothe real-time tracking system 100, which occur primarily with itemhandling events. The visibility server 210 may be similar to theenterprise server in that it gathers information from various inputs andprovides the information to the real-time tracking system 100. Anintegrated data server 211 provides item scan information to thevisibility server. The integrated data server 211 receives inputs from aplurality item processing equipment 212. The item processing equipment212 also communicates a unique identifier which identifies each piece ofitem processing equipment 212. This unique identifier is transmitted tothe real-time tracking system 100, where an association with the iteminformation and item processing equipment 212 unique identifier is made.This enables the real-time tracking system 100 to determine where anitem is located when each item processing equipment 212 scan occurs.Each scan may also be categorized or defined as a particular handlingevent. For example, if the scan of the item occurs on the intake oringress of the item, the handling event may be the induction scan, andthe handling event description is provided to the real-time trackingsystem 100 and stored in the data warehouse 110. Each piece of itemprocessing equipment 212 identifies and communicates the handling eventtype. In some embodiments, the handling event may be a nesting event, ade-nesting event, a processing event, transportation event, such asloading on a train, plane, truck, etc., a sorting event, a deliveryevent, a loading/unloading event, a rerouting event, and any otherhandling event which occurs as an item moves through the distributionnetwork. The type of event may be stored in an item record in the datawarehouse 110. The item record may include the computer readable code,any item information from an electronic manifest, an item service class,a shipper or mailer ID, a destination, and any other informationreceived from the item.

In some embodiments, each item will undergo a similar progression ofhandling events. For example, most items will undergo handling eventswhich include intake or ingress, arrival at origin facility, processingat origin facility, nesting events, transportation to transfer point(e.g., a regional processing facility), arrival at transfer point,processing at transfer point, transportation to destination plant,arrival at transportation plant, transportation to delivery unit,de-nesting events, arrival at delivery unit, processing at deliveryunit, item out for delivery, and delivery. These are exemplary only, andan item may undergo more or fewer handling events, without departingfrom the scope of the application.

In some embodiments, the item processing equipment 212 comprises an itemimaging device, such as a camera, which can perform optical characterrecognition, or which captures an image of the item which can later beoptically character recognized. The item image, or data derived from theitem image can also be provided to the visibility server 210 and,subsequently, to the real-time tracking system 100.

The visibility server 210 also receives input from an intelligent itemserver 213, which receives input from one or more handheld scanners 214.The handheld scanners 214 may be used by employees or personnel in areceiving facility, such as in a post office, or on intake into aregional distribution facility. When an item is received into thedistribution network, or into a distribution facility, each item can bescanned with a handheld scanner 214, which reads the computer readablelabel on the item, and communicates the item information to theintelligent item server 213. The handheld scanner 214 may also be usedto scan items as they are placed on trucks in a facility, either fortransportation to an intermediate facility, or going out for delivery.The handheld scanner 214 can also scan a computer readable identifier onthe truck on which the item was loaded. The handheld scanner 214provides the item scan information and the truck identifier to thevisibility server 210, which in turn, provides the information to thereal-time tracking system. The handheld scanner 214 may also transmit anidentifier of a location where the handheld scanner 214 is used. Eachhandheld scanner 214 may also provide to the visibility server 210 ahandheld scanner identifier which identifies the scanner, and which canbe associated with an employee identification which identifies theemployee which operated the handheld scanner 214.

The visibility server 210 receives input form a full service server 215,which interfaces and receives information from a one or more fullservice handheld scanners 216. The full service server 215 and fullservice handheld scanners 216 may be owned/operated by a third party,such as a mailer, shipper, or other similar entity. When a mailer orshipper ships many items, the mailer or shipper prepares an electronicmanifest or documentation regarding a shipment. The mailer or shippermay scan computer readable codes on each item as the shipment is beingprepared to create an electronic manifest. In some embodiments, themailer or shipper may scan each item to verify the electronic manifestis complete. The electronic manifest, and the scan information from thefull service handheld scanners can be provided to the full serviceserver 215, and, in turn, provided to the visibility server 210. Anelectronic manifest provided to the real-time tracking system 100 canidentify a mailer or shipper by a mailer or shipper ID, or it canuniquely identify the mailer or shipper by a customer registrationidentifier, or other unique identifier. The real-time tracking system100 associates the customer registration identifier or other uniqueidentifier with a mailer ID or shipper ID which is applied to the maileror shipper's items.

The visibility server 210 can receive inputs from one or more terminalhandling servers 217. The terminal handling servers 217 may receive scaninformation from air or surface transporters as the items are scannedand loaded on to vehicles for transport. The terminal handling servers217 may also transmit unique identifiers to identify the vehicle onwhich each item has been loaded. The scan information from the terminalhandling servers 217 may be transmitted via the visibility server 210,and to the real-time tracking system 100.

The real-time tracking system 100 can receive an input from a surfacevisibility server 220. The surface visibility server may receive scanand visibility information from a transportation server 221, which, inturn, receives inputs from a variety of transportation systems 222. Thetransportation system 222 may comprise a yard management system whichrecords, tracks, and provides the availability of ground transportationresources associated with a particular location within the distributionnetwork, such as the number of trucks available for use at a particularregional distribution facility. The transportation systems 222 alsoprovide unique identifiers for each of the delivery assets, such asvehicles, which can be accessed by the transportation server 221, andultimately, the real-time tracking system 100. These unique identifiersfor delivery assets physically identify each delivery asset when thereal-time tracking system 100 receives a delivery asset identifier fromthe enterprise server 201 or the visibility server 210. Thetransportation system 222 also provides GPS information regarding thelocation of each transportation asset.

The transportation systems 222 also provide information to the real-timetracking system 100 regarding availability of delivery assets and GPSlocation of delivery resources for use in predictive workloaddeterminations and the like.

The real-time tracking system 100 also receives an input from a facilityaccess server 223. The facility access server provides a mailer orshipper with an interface to schedule a delivery time to an intakefacility. For example, a mailer may have a plurality of items to whichit has applied a computer readable identifier, and for which anelectronic manifest has been provided. The facility access server 223receives input of a scheduled drop-off time and location for the mailerto alert the distribution network of the incoming inventory. Thereal-time tracking system 100 may use this information in its inventorymanagement, predictive workload determinations, and other processes.

The real-time tracking system 100 also receives inputs from a logisticscondition server 224. The logistics condition server receivesinformation regarding delivery vehicles and transportation resources,including maintenance status, break-down status, GPS location, and thelike. This vehicle status information is supplied to the real-timetracking system 100, where it can be used in predictive workloaddeterminations, inventory predictions. The GPS location information ofvehicles from the logistics condition server 224, along with the uniqueidentifiers for the vehicles can be used for real-time or near real-timetracking of items as they move through the distribution network. Thereal-time tracking system 100 can have the GPS coordinates of eachfacility stored, or provided from an external source. As thetransportation resources GPS location is tracked, a geofencing system isemployed on the logistics condition server 224 to send an alert or anotification to the real-time tracking system 100 when a transportationresource comes near to a facility or within a geofence establishedaround a facility. The real-time tracking system 100 can use thisinformation in predictive workload determinations, for item tracking,and inventory determinations.

The real-time tracking system 100 receives inputs form an address server230 and destination server 231. The address server 230 receives inputfrom destination correction modules 232. The destination correctionmodules 232 provide information regarding address correction, mailforwarding, and other item redirection services. These inputs intoreal-time tracking system 100 can be used in inventory calculations andpredictive workload determinations. These can also be used in serviceperformance measurements to improve the efficiency of item processing.The destination server 231 provides destination identifier codes. Eachcomputer readable code contains an encoded destination identifier. Inthe case of the postal service, that destination identifier may be a ZIPcode. The destination server 231 identifies to the real-time trackingsystem 100 what the encoded destination identifiers are, and what thephysical destinations are, which are received in scans from thevisibility server 210.

The real-time tracking system 100 receives inputs from a facility server233. The facility server 233 contains information regarding thefacilities in a distribution network. For example, the facility server233 provides the real-time tracking system 100 with a description of thetype of facility, the item processing equipment 212 at the facility, thesize of the facility, i.e., how many truck bays, floor space, stagingareas, etc., and other facility information. As the real-time trackingsystem 100 performs predictive workload determinations for a particularfacility, the real-time tracking system 100 needs to know what itemprocessing equipment 212 is located at a particular facility, in orderto determine run time, what equipment must be used and for how long,etc.

The real-time tracking system 100 receives input from a sort plan system234. The sort plan system 234 describes what each time of itemprocessing equipment 212 is capable of, the capacities, speed, and otherinformation regarding operation of the item processing equipment 212.The real-time tracking system 100 uses this information to calculatepredictive workloads and to schedule facility operation.

The real-time tracking system 100 receives input from a collection pointsystem 235. The collection point management system 235 providesinformation regarding collection points, collection times at eachcollection point, physical location of the collection point, and otherinformation regarding collection points. If the distribution network isthe postal service, a blue postal box on a street corner may be acollection point. The collection point system 235 informs the real-timetracking system 100 of when the collection point pick up time is, andmay provide a confirmation of pickup. For example, if a carrier ispicking up items from a collection point, the items are scanned via themobile scanner 203. A collection point, e.g., blue box, identifier isalso scanned using the mobile scanner 203. The real-time tracking system100 receives the collection point identifier, and uses the input fromthe collection point system 235 to identify the collection point fromthe collection point identifier, and to determine what the physicallocation of the collection point is. In some embodiments, the real-timetracking system 100 may compare the GPS coordinates of the collectionpoint with GPS coordinates provided by the wireless scanner 203, todetermine if the carrier is on schedule, is in the right place, and makeany other desired determination using this information.

The real-time tracking system 100 also receives input from a dynamicrouting tool 236. The dynamic routing tool 236 can be used to preparedynamic routes at any level of the distribution network, and can be usedin determining inventory, predictive workloads, and the like.

The real-time tracking system 100 receives inputs from a maintenanceserver 237. The maintenance server provides maintenance information,such as maintenance status, malfunction or repair status, preventivemaintenance schedules, and other maintenance information for itemprocessing equipment 212. This information can be used in predictiveworkload determinations to take into account item processing equipment212 availability in order to accurately predict or analyze what the runtime, personnel, and other requirements will be in a given facility.

The real-time tracking system 100 receives inputs from an electronicedit system 238, in which a carrier or other resource can inputinformation regarding a particular destination. For example, a carriermay note that no one is home at a particular destination, or that adestination has requested no delivery or alternate deliveryinstructions. This information is provided to an electronic edit system238, from whence it is provided to the real-time tracking system 100.This information can be used in predictive workload determinations andinventory determinations to prevent or change delivery for affecteddestinations.

The real-time tracking system 100 receives inputs from a personnelsystem 240. The personnel system 240 contains information regardingstaffing, schedules, available employees, identification of employeeswho are clocked in or at work, and other human resource relatedinformation. This information is used by the real-time tracking system100 in predictive workload determinations for identifying what personnelis available, or will be available at a given facility at a given time.This is used to determine what item processing equipment 212 can beoperated or run based on the number of operators available.

The real-time tracking system 100 receives input from a servicestandards directory 241. The service standards directory 241 containsinformation regarding the item service classes. The computer readableidentifiers on items may contain an item service class identifier.Service classes may have different processing requirements and timingrequirements. When an item scan is received from the visibility server210, the visibility server 210 provides the computer readable code withan item service class encoded therein. The real-time tracking system 100cross-references the item service class code with the item service classidentified by the item service class code. Thus, the real-time trackingsystem 100 generates and stores item service classes for use inpredictive workload or inventory determinations.

The real-time tracking system 100 receives inputs from an ID system 242.The ID system 242 stores identifiers for mailers, shippers, retailers,or any other entity which has an identifier which can be encoded intocomputer readable codes located on items. When a computer readable codeis received from the visibility server 210, the computer readable codemay contain or encode a mailer or shipper ID. The real-time trackingsystem 100 cross-references the encoded mailer or shipper received fromthe visibility server 210 with the identity of the mailer or shipperfrom the ID system 242, and stores an association between the item andthe mailer or shipper. The real-time tracking system 100 may use thisinformation to provide tracking information, business intelligence, orother SPM information regarding the items identified by the mailer orshipper ID. Although the mailer and shipper ID are described here, theID encoded in the computer readable code on the item may refer to anydesired entity, such as recipient, item owner, commercial retailer, andthe like.

The real-time tracking system 100 receives input from a registrationsystem 243. The registration system can provide information regardingentities which have registered and been authenticated to receive and/oruse information from the real-time tracking system 100. The registrationsystem 243 may provide associations between a user and the user's mailerID, delivery addresses, or other identifying feature. The registrationsystem 243 may also provide permissions that a mailer or shipper toshare its information with a third party. The data provisioning module134 receives the information from the registration system 243 as itdetermines what item information is available to which parties. In someembodiments, a mailer may provide mailing services for many clients. Themailer may provide the registration system 243 with the identities ofthe clients, and authorize the clients to receive particular iteminformation, or information for items with a particular identifier,destination, return address, intake point, etc. The mailer or shippermay delegate access permission to a third party or other user. Thispermission allows the client to access the item information for themailer ID, which is authorized for sharing by mailer. The data provisionmodule 134 can access information from the registration system 243 inorder to authenticate and authorize registered users access to data inthe data warehouse 110.

The real-time tracking system 100 provides information to and receivesinput from a measurement system 244. The measurement system 244 may beoperated by the distribution network or by an entity which specializesin service performance measurement statistics or other entity. Thereal-time tracking system 100 provides scan metric data, performancemeasurement data, and other analytical data, to the measurement system244. The measurement system 244 may perform various analyses on thereceived data, and may provide feedback to the real-time tracking system100 based on various analyses. This feedback may be used to improveefficiency of the real-time tracking system 100, or be provided toexternal users via the ports 140.

The real-time tracking system 100 receives input from an operating plansystem 245. The operating plan system 245 provides entry clearancetimes, run start and stop times, and other timing requirements for eachfacility. For example, an entry clearance time can be a deadline bywhich a particular item, handling unit, or consolidated unit must beprocessed or cleared from a facility in order to meet a service classdeadline, an air transport deadline, or other delivery deadline. Theoperating plan system 245 also provides the run start and stop times forvarious facilities. The real-time tracking system 100 uses the entryclearance times in predictive workload determinations, using the entryclearance time to determine what equipment, personnel, etc. are neededin order to process items in order to meet an entry clearance timedeadline. The real time tracking system 100 uses run start and stoptimes from various facilities in order to understand timing betweenvarious facilities. For example, if a destination facility has a runstart time constraint, and items are being transported from one facilityto the destination facility, the real time tracking system 100 needs toknow the time by which the items must be processed and placed en routeto the destination facility in order to meet the run start timerequirement of the destination facility. This information is used whenpredicting and determining equipment, vehicle, and personnel needs ateach facility in the distribution network.

The real-time tracking system 100 receives inputs from a labelassignment system 246. The label assignment system 246 stores uniqueidentifiers for each container, handling unit, consolidated unit, tray,sack, pallet, or other item handling component, and associates theunique identifiers with the particular piece of equipment. Thus, when ascan of a handling unit is received from the visibility system 210 orthe enterprise server 201, the real-time tracking system 100cross-references information from the label assignment system tointerpret scans of handling units, trays, containers, pallets, etc., andidentify the particular handling unit, container, tray, etc. Thisinformation is used in tracking nesting associations, in item tracking,and in any other desired application. The real-time tracking system 100also receives input from an equipment label system 247. The equipmentlabel system is used to generate computer readable codes for itemprocessing equipment 212 and mail handling equipment.

The real-time tracking system 100 receives input from an end-of-runsystem 248. The end-of-run system 248 is a system which each piece ofitem processing equipment 212 undergoes at the end of its run. Thenumber of scans, misfeeds, equipment processing speed, throughput, andother statistics are compiled, and provided to the real-time trackingsystem 100, along with the identifier for the piece of item processingequipment 212. The real-time tracking system 100 uses this informationto adjust the predictive workload calculation to more accurately reflectthe capabilities of any piece of item processing equipment 212.

The real-time tracking system 100 receives input from a product trackingsystem 250. The product tracking system 250 provides manifestinformation for specific classes of items and for parcels and packages.The specific classes of items can include certified mail, or for itemswith specific tracking, notification, and insurance requirements. Wherea distribution network offers delivery of items of mail and parcels maybe processed and tracked using separate systems. The product trackingsystem 250 may provide information regarding parcels and packages,including parcel weight, volume, size, type, sender, receiver, specialhandling requirements, or any other desired parcel information. Thereal-time tracking system 100 may use this information in creatinginventories, in predictive workload determinations, in SPM, and in BIapplications.

The real-time tracking system 100 receives input from an internationaldata transfer system 251. The international data transfer system 251includes information regarding items which originate internationally orare intended for delivery internationally. A domestic distributionnetwork, such as a postal service, may interface with internationaldistribution network, such as a foreign post office. When items areintended for international delivery, the foreign distribution networkprovides item information, such as electronic manifest information, itemidentification, item type, item quantity, and the like, to theinternational data transfer system 251. This information is provided tothe real-time tracking system 100, where it is used in inventory andpredictive workload determinations, and in other desired applications.

The real time tracking system 100 receives input from a code generatingsystem 252. The computer readable code generating system is configuredto generate computer readable codes which can be attached to items foruse in the distribution network. The distribution network may provideindividuals, businesses, shippers, and other entities the ability togenerate computer readable codes, which the individuals, businesses,shippers, and other entities can affix to items which they prepare orprovide to the distribution network for shipment or delivery. Using acode generating system 252, an entity can input item information, itemservice class, and other information regarding the item and request acomputer readable code. The code generating system 252 generates thecode, and provides the generated code and item information to thereal-time tracking system 100. The real-time tracking system 100 usesthis information for item tracking, inventory, SPM, predictive workloaddeterminations, etc. When the item with the generated computer readablecode is ingested or taken into the distribution network, the generatedbar code is scanned with a mobile scanner 203, handheld scanner 214, oritem processing equipment 212, and transmitted to the real-time trackingsystem 100 via the visibility server 210. The real-time tracking system100 associates the item information received from the code generatingsystem 252 with the scanned item, and associates a scan event, a scanlocation, and other scan information with the item in the data warehouse110.

The real-time tracking system 100 receives input from an electronicmanifest system 253. The electronic document system receives electronicmanifests from mailers, shippers, or other entities who provideelectronic documentation to the distribution network. The electronicmanifest may include mailer ID, shipper ID, item type, item serviceclass, item quantity, item destination, item ingress or induction point,any nesting associations generated by the mailer or shipper, and anyother desired information regarding the shipment. This information isprovided to the real-time tracking system 100 for determinations ofinventory and predictive workloads, for tracking purposes, and for anyother desired use. The electronic manifest system 253 may provideinformation regarding items of mail, such as flats, letters, and thelike, in contrast to parcel or package information, which may beprovided by a product tracking system 251.

The real-time tracking system 100 receives input from special servicesystem 254. The special service system 254 may provide special requesthandling for particular items. For example, a mailer, shipper, or otherentity may desire to provide a particular mailpiece to every address ina given area. In this case, the mailer need not address each individualitem of mail. The mailer provides information to the special servicesystem 254, which notifies the real-time tracking system 100 of thespecial circumstance, and provides the volume of the item to bedelivered. This volume or quantity information can be used in visibilityreporting, SPM, predictive workloads, inventory, etc.

In some embodiments, the distribution network may be the United StatesPostal Service. Based on all the above inputs, the types of data storedin the data warehouse can include item information, including itemattributes; handling events; transportation location information,including GPS location data from carriers and transportation resources(trucks, cars, trains, etc.); nesting associations; manifestinformation, which includes item owner, preparer, drop-off location,job, and item and nesting associations; appointments and assignments,such as scheduled drop-off times, air transport appointments andassignments, etc.; reference data, which includes facility information,item processing equipment information, including maintenance schedules,carrier routes, service standards, critical entry times, holidayinformation, etc.; and aggregate data which has been aggregated by thereal-time tracking system 100, including inventory, predictiveworkloads, SPM, SPD, etc.

The inputs described here are exemplary only. A real-time trackingsystem 100 may have more or fewer inputs that that described herewithout departing from the scope of this disclosure. Additionally,intermediate components, such as enterprise server 201 and visibilityserver 210 may be added or removed as desired without departing from thescope of this disclosure.

The data warehouse 110 and the real-time tracking system 100 areconfigured to handle large amounts of incoming and outgoing data on adaily basis. The real-time tracking system can handle an average of over1.475 billion or more transactions per day. In the case of the UnitedStates Postal Service, of the 1.475 billion transactions, itemprocessing equipment 212 generates 1.225 billion scans and 192 millionmailpieces are identified. Table 1 provides additional estimated inbounddata volume for the real-time tracking system 100 specific to the UnitedStates Postal Service. The portion of the distribution network providingthe input is identified in parenthesis. These volumes are estimatesonly, and the real-time tracking system 100 may receive and processhigher volumes of transactions than those shown here.

TABLE 1 Average Transmitted Incoming Interfaces Data Type of DataFrequency Volume per Day Address Change Change of Reference Daily300,000 Service (230) Address Address Change Undeliverable as ReferenceDaily 270,000 Service (230) addressed Facility Access 99M (Container)Transactional 4x Daily 18,716 and Shipment Tracking (223) FacilityAccess Customer Service Transactional Daily 586 and Shipment Agreement(CSA) Tracking (223) Facility Access Destination Transactional 4x Daily6,673 and Shipment Appointments Tracking (223) Facility Access MailerDirection Transactional Daily 6,364,815 and Shipment File (MDF) Tracking(223) Facility Access Entry Origin Transactional 4x Daily 225 andShipment Appointments Tracking (223) Facilities Facility data ReferenceDaily 93 Database (223) Facilities Facility File Reference Daily 38,389Database (223) Full-Service Container Transactional Real-time 1,679Intelligent Mail Device (216) Full-Service Handling Unit TransactionalReal-time 3,513 Intelligent Mail Device (216) Full-Service MailpieceTransactional Real-time 24,149 Intelligent Mail Device (216) IntelligentMail IMDAS Bundle Transactional Real-time 646 Visibility Service (210)Intelligent Mail IMDAS Transactional Real-time 3,526 Visibility ServiceContainer (210) Intelligent Mail IMDAS Tray Transactional Real-time 19Visibility Service (210) Intelligent Mail MPE Scans TransactionalReal-time 1,255,926,786 Visibility Service (210) Intelligent MailMailpiece Transactional Real-time 192,000,000 Visibility Service (210)Intelligent Mail Tray Transactional Real-time 1,812,029 VisibilityService (210) Logistics plant-to-plant Transactional Real-time 400,000Condition geofence Reporting System (224) Logistics Terminal handlerTransactional Real-time 250,000 Condition Scans Reporting System (224)Mailer/Shipper ID Mailer Reference Daily 138 (242) identification dataElectronic Permit/customer Transactional Real-time 1,175,606 Manifest(253) registration ID Electronic Electronic Transactional Real-time1,765 Manifest (253) manifests Electronic Mailing Arrival TransactionalReal-time 27,527 Manifest (253) Surface Air Alt Loc Transactional OnceN/A Support System (204) Surface Air Assignments Transactional Every 30354,421 Support System minutes (204) Surface Air Carrier TransactionalEvery 2 hours 1,398,208 Support System (204) Surface Air FedExTransactional Every 6 hours 797,592 Support System (204) Surface AirRoute Change Transactional Daily 45,715 Support System (204) Surface AirTerminal Transactional Every 2 hours 751,693 Support System handlingservice (204) Service Delivery Service standards Reference Daily 49Calculator (241) reference data Surface Visibility Container (99M)Transactional Real-time 53,721 (220) Surface Visibility Handling UnitTransactional Real-time 300,117 (220) Transportation Postal vehicleTransactional Hourly 150,000 Information service (PVS) and Managementhighway trips Evaluation System (222) Transportation Nightly plannedTransactional Daily 1,114,256 Optimization routes Planning & SchedulingTool (222) Vehicle PVS Trips Transactional Daily 15,000 InformationTransportation Analysis & Logistics (222) Vehicle PVS TruckTransactional Daily 4,057 Information Inventory Transportation Analysis& Logistics (222) Web End of Run End-of-Run Transactional Daily 76,848(248) GeoFence PVS GPS data Transactional Real-time 227,192 Pings (224)GeoFence Carrier GPS data Transactional Real-time 4,800,000 Pings (224and 203) GeoFence HCR GPS data Transactional Real-time 600,000 Plant—POPings (224) Estimated 1,475,513,557 Total Average Transactional Data perDay:

FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart depicting an embodiment of item processing inthe real-time tracking system 100. The process 300 begins in step 302,where the real-time tracking system 100 receives an electronic manifest.As described above, the electronic manifest may be provided via aproduct tracking system 250, an electronic manifest system 253, or maybe otherwise input into the real-time tracking system 100. It should benoted, however, that an electronic manifest may or may not be providedfor a particular item. Process 300 can continue whether an electronicmanifest is provided or not. in some embodiments, process 300 will beginin step 304. Additionally, process 300 is described here with regard toone or a few items, and as one process. However, in the case of adistribution network, such as a postal system, process 300 will beoccurring many times in parallel, or will be occurring many times withdifferent steps of process 300 occurring for different items at the sametime. The real-time tracking system 100 may generate an item record foreach item included on the electronic manifest.

The process 300 may start in step 304, or, if the process 300 started instep 302, the process 300 may proceed to step 304, wherein item scaninformation is received. As described above, item scan information canbe received from a mobile scanner 203, a handheld scanner 214, itemprocessing equipment 212, a full service handheld scanner 216, from thetransportation system 222, and the like, upon scanning the physicalitem. As described above, the scan information includes a computerreadable code, which is attached to or associated with the item,information regarding the device or equipment which performed the scan,including device/equipment type and location, and a handling event type.The scan information is received in the real-time tracking system 100via one of the inputs described above.

The process next moves to step 306, wherein it is determined whether thescan information is recognized. To determine whether scan information isrecognized, the real-time tracking system 100 compares the computerreadable code with computer readable codes previously or concurrentlyreceived from the code generating system 252, the electronic manifestsystem 253, or from another input which provides a computer readablecode.

If the scanned computer readable code is recognized, or has beenreceived from another input, an item record may already exist in thedata warehouse 110, but will not have a handling or scan eventassociated with it. If this is the case, the process moves to step 308,wherein the handling event, the equipment type/location, or any otherrelevant information is recorded in the data warehouse 110, and isassociated with the item and the item record.

If the scanned computer readable code is not recognized in step 306, theitem may not have been provided on an electronic manifest. If this isthe case, the process moves to step 310, wherein an item record iscreated, and the scan information is stored and associated with the itemrecord and the item. In some embodiments, an item may be received into adistribution network without a computer readable code attached. In thiscase, the distribution network may generate a computer readable code,input the code into the real-time tracking system 100, and then scan theitem. When this occurs, the real-time tracking system 100 will recognizethe code, and record the scan information in an item record, which canbe created at the time of generating the computer readable code, or atthe time of receiving scan information.

The process next moves to step 312, wherein the item record is used toupdate the real-time or near real-time inventory. The real-timeinventory may be provided for each facility, handling unit, tray,container, etc., at any time. The data warehouse 110 stores scaninformation, handling events, etc. for each item. Using thisinformation, the inventory module 124 can keep a real-time inventory,which can be provided via push notifications, email, SMS messages,website interfaces, and the like, to internal and external users via theportals 140.

The process next moves to step 314, wherein expected inventory orworkloads can be generated. Using the real-time item information storedin the data warehouse 110, and using the other information input intothe real-time tracking system 100, such as the transportationavailability, item processing equipment availability and schedule,personnel schedules and availability, service classes, and historicalinformation described above, the predictive workload module 126generates predictive workload data for each facility, vehicle, carrier,etc. in the distribution network. For example, the data warehouse 110contains information for each item in the distribution network, and witheach item, is associated a next delivery point, such as the nextfacility through which the item needs to pass in order to be deliveredto the destination. Thus, the predictive workload module 126 can providea predictive inventory for each facility for any period of time. Asdescribed above, this information is used to calculate item processingequipment run times, personnel needs, vehicle needs, etc.

From step 314, the process 300 splits into parallel paths. However, insome embodiments, the path for providing service performancemeasurements may be delayed, not performed, or performed at some othertime. One path of the process 300 leads to step 318, wherein theexpected, or predictive workload generated in step 314 is compared tothe actual received item inventory for a given facility. The comparisonis used to determine whether the predictive workload determination isaccurate, or if parameters need to be adjusted in order to provide amore accurate predictive workload.

The process moves to step 320, wherein performance measurements aregenerated, such as SPM and SPD described above, or any other desiredperformance measurement is generated. The performance measurements maybe provided to internal and external users via the portals in real-timeor near real-time. Or the performance measurement information may becompiled, stored, and batched to users upon request.

The process next moves from step 320 to decision state 316, wherein thereal-time tracking system 100 determines whether an item has beendelivered. The other path of process 300 leads to decision state 316,which functions as described below. In decision state 316, the real-timetracking system 100 determines whether an item has been delivered inorder to understand where an item is during its life cycle in thedistribution network. If the item has not yet received a deliveryhandling event, the item is still in the distribution network, andadditional handling events or scan information is expected. In thiscase, the process 300 moves to step 322, wherein the real-time trackingsystem 100 awaits scan information for the item. The real-time trackingsystem 100 may have times stored associated with item scan events, andmay have time guideposts which provide a range of time an item isexpected to be at any point in the distribution network, such as, howlong an item should take to transit from one facility to another. Ifscan information for an item has not been received within the estimatedor standard time, the real-time tracking system 100 may generate awarning, a message, or communication to in internal or external userthat an item is overly delayed, and prompt a person or system within thedistribution network to take action to determine the cause of the delay.

When the next scan information is received at step 322, the processrepeats for the item, until the delivery handling event is recorded. Inthis case, the process moves from decision state 316 to step 324,wherein the item record is updated with a delivery event, time, andlocation. The delivery event can be provided real-time to a recipient,shipper, mailer, or other interested party. In some embodiments, wherethe mobile scanner 203 is GPS enabled, a carrier's location may betracked in the real-time tracking system 100. When the carrierapproaches the GPS coordinates of a delivery location, or comes withinan established geo-fence around a destination or other selectedlocation, the real-time tracking system 100 may notify or alert anrecipient, owner, etc., that the carrier is approaching the deliverypoint. Upon delivery, the carrier scans using the mobile scanner 203,and the carrier, or the mobile scanner 203 indicates that the scan isfor a delivery. The delivery handling event is provided to the real-timetracking system 100, and the delivery event is recorded, and the itemrecord is updated.

The process next moves to step 326, wherein performance information isgenerated. The performance information may include timeliness ofdelivery based on service class, scan information accuracy, anyobservations or comments from personnel in the delivery network, or anyother desired performance information. The performance information foreach item may be stored in the data warehouse 110 for later access byinternal or external users.

In some embodiments, the distribution network may comprise the real-timetracking system 100 as described herein. By using the real-time trackingsystem 100, a distribution network is able to track and storeinformation in real time, and/or near real time, regarding the origin,current location, last handling event, next handling event, intermediarystops, delivery destination, and delivery date/time estimate, for eachitem in the distribution network. The real-time distribution network canalso know and/or track the identity of the sender, such as a bulkmailer, retailer, private party, etc. Using a unique identifier, such asa mailer or shipper ID, for each item, the identity of the sender can beassociated with the item moving through the real-time distributionnetwork. The distribution network may also know the identity of theitem. The identity of the item can be determined from an electronicmanifest provided by the sender or shipper of the item, or based on theidentity of the shipper, or may be encoded in a unique identifier on theitem.

As described above, the BI module 132, as well as any other moduledescribed herein, can comprises a processor and a memory, and canconfigured to analyze item identification and destination, and generateinformation to third parties or requesting entities. This BI module 132may be embodied on a stand-alone computer, or may be a part of the datawarehouse 110. The distribution network can keep and compile informationregarding the number and identity of items which are delivered to arecipient on a daily basis. This information is collected and stored byunder the direction of the processor of the data warehouse 110. Forexample, the data warehouse 110 is in communication with item processingequipment 212, such as sorting and handling machines, carriers,distribution facilities, and the like, via a wired or wireless network.

This information may be valuable to identify days of the week on which aparticular recipient, or group of recipients, receives types of items.For example, the BI module 132 can analyze item information to determineon which day a particular recipient receives the most or fewestadvertising items from mailers, or the most magazines or catalogs, orany other desired information. This information may be valuable to amailer or shipper who wishes to send an item, such as an advertisement,which will be received on a day or at a time where the fewest competingadvertisements may be received, in order to maximize the chance that arecipient will look at or act on the mailer's item or advertisement.

In some embodiments, as described above, the real-time tracking system100 identifies and stores the identity of the sender and/or of an itemin the data warehouse 110. The identity can be obtained from anidentifier, such as a computer readable code, attached or affixed to theitem. In some embodiments, the identity of the sender and/or item can beobtained by interpreting or decoding an identifier, and using thedecoded or interpreted information to look up or query an identityassociated with the identifier. The real-time tracking system 100 knowsthat an item is sent from a particular entity, such as an onlineretailer like Amazon, e-Bay, a catalog retailer, or any other retaileror entity, by receiving manifesting information or an identificationunique to the sending retailer.

In some embodiments, the real-time tracking system 100 may associate theitem's origin or return address with a particular sender. The BI module132 can associate the return address or identity of a sender of an itemwith a category. The BI module 132 may categorize items for purposes oftracking or preparing shipping and receiving data. The BI module 132 maycategorize potential distribution items, such as electronics,appliances, home furnishings, clothing, DVDs, CDs, office supplies, andany other desired category. In some embodiments, the distributionnetwork may categorize potential distribution items by cost, such ashigh dollar items, low dollar items, etc. These categories are exemplaryonly, and one of skill in the art will understand that other categoriesor bases for categorization may be used without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure.

The BI module 132 can associate retailers and the addresses ofretailers' stores, distribution centers, warehouses, etc., in a memorywith one or more categories of items. For example, the BI module 132 mayassociate an electronic goods retailer with the electronics andappliances, and a traditional department store with clothing, homefurnishings, and others. When a return address of a shipping facilityfor a retailer, or the name of a retailer is read, scanned, captured,processed, or otherwise handled in the distribution network, the itemmay be associated in the data warehouse 110 or BI module 132 with acategory of items. The BI module 132 can provide aggregated or compileddata of what types of items are delivered to recipients in a givengeographical area. In some embodiments, the BI module 132 compiles itemtype information based on the identity of the retailer or sender withoutusing an item category.

In some embodiments, a bulk mailer may have or may be assigned a uniquemailer identification which is encoded or readable from the item as ittravels through the distribution network. The BI module 132 is thus ableto identify an advertisement, a catalog, a magazine, or other mailpiecebased on the mailer or shipper ID. In some embodiments, the distributionnetwork receives item identifying information from a sender's manifestinformation, which is supplied to the distribution network. In this way,the BI module 132 or the real-time tracking system 100 can track theidentity of items, the types of advertisements, the types of catalogs,etc. which are delivered to particular geographic areas.

The BI module 132, by identifying the items or types of items which aredelivered to recipients in the distribution network, can compilevaluable information regarding the buying preferences, interests, andhabits of a particular recipient or group of recipients. For example,the BI module 132 receives item information and destination informationfrom the data warehouse 110. The BI module 132 comprises instructions onhow to process, manipulate, compile, or otherwise evaluate the receivedinformation. The BI module 132 can categorize the items in a variety ofdifferent ways, e.g., according to dollar value of the items, frequencyof item delivery, or any other desired category. The BI module 132 canextrapolate relative income levels of recipients or groups of recipientsbased on the types or the value of items received by the recipients orgroups of recipients. For example, if a particular geographic areareceives items which are categorized as high dollar items, the BI module132 can extrapolate income levels or buying preferences based on thesecategories. If a geographic area subscribes to catalogs from high-endstores with a greater frequency than other areas, then the BI module 132can extrapolate income levels or buying preferences based on thecatalogs. These are examples only, and a person of skill in the art willunderstand, guided by the present disclosure, that the identity ofdistribution items can be analyzed to determine trends and features ofthe geographic areas where the items are delivered.

The BI module 132 can compile and provide summary levels of information.Where privacy concerns dictate the identification of items received byan individual recipient, the distribution network can compile oraggregate information based for a defined geographic area. Additionally,where privacy concerns are implicated, the BI module 132 can compile oraggregate information based on the categories or types of items, ratherthan by identifying specific items sent to a specific recipient. The BImodule 132 can be configured to provide data, trends, and any otherinformation such that the recipients of specific items are notpersonally identifiable. For example, the BI module 132 may compileinformation about item delivery for a group of recipients. In thecontext of the postal service, the group of recipients may be grouped ata block level. The blocks may follow a geographically defined block, ormay be defined as a group of recipients. Several blocks may be compiledtogether in a tract. In some embodiments, a tract could contain frombetween one hundred to several thousand individual recipients. The BImodule 132 can compile data for blocks or tracts, or for any otherdesired geographic area. In some embodiments, the BI module 132 providesdata which can be provided to subscribers, users, or other interestedparties in support of a product or service offered by the real timetracking system 100, or the distribution network.

In some embodiments, the real-time tracking system 100 identifies amagazine or catalog as it moves through the distribution network. The BImodule 132 can identify which magazines or catalogs are provided to acertain recipient or group of recipients based on the sender, mailer orshipper ID, and delivery destinations of the magazines and catalogs.Thus, based on the identity of a magazine or catalog and thedestinations, the distribution network, via the data warehouse 110and/or BI module 132 can extrapolate characteristics of recipients orgroups of recipients based on the types of magazines and/or catalogsreceived. This data can be useful in many contexts. For example, the BImodule 132 can identify that a particular block, neighborhood, or tract,subscribes to sporting magazines at a higher rate than other blocks orneighborhoods in the same city. A mailer, retailer, advertiser, or otherentity affiliated with sports can then tailor advertisements,promotions, or other opportunities to the geographic area with a higherpercentage of sports fans. A person of skill in the art will understandthat the BI module 132 can extrapolate or identify demographic or otherinformation in many different areas, in addition to those describedherein.

In another example, the BI module 132 may identify a geographic area,such as a block, as receiving a higher number of packages from an onlineretailer than another block. This may indicate that the block thatreceives a higher number of packages is more involved in e-commerce andonline shopping than another geographic area. An e-commerce agent oronline retailer can then tailor its advertising distributions, offers,or promotions to the areas which indicate a preference for onlineshopping.

The BI module 132 may identify a block as receiving a higher number ofinfant or child related categories of items. The distribution networkcan then provide this information to retailers of toys and otherchild-related items.

As another example, when a new, highly anticipated electronics product,such as a video game console or platform, is released a video game makermay request the distribution network to provide information about whichgeographic areas are receiving a higher concentration of the new videogame console or platform. Having this information, the video game makercan provide relevant offers or advertisements to those areas which havea concentration of video game consoles set for delivery.

The foregoing are only examples of the uses of information compiled fromthe distribution network. These are exemplary only, and are not intendedto limit the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, although theexamples refer to blocks as a geographical area, this does not limit thescope of geographic area used herein. Furthermore, the term block doesnot necessarily refer to a block as commonly understood in the contextof a city. The term block can refer to any geographic area whichincorporates more than one recipient of items.

The BI module 132 may use stored item identifications and associationsfrom the data warehouse 110, such as historical delivery information andtrends. The value of this information can provide operationalefficiencies such as workforce allocation and others, and can supportnew products and services. In some embodiments, the distribution networkmay use a snap-shot or real-time information to compile the information.

The BI module 132 can, upon request, evaluate all the items currently inthe distribution network which meet an identity and destinationcriteria. For example, a grocery store may have a time-sensitive orlimited-time offer or promotion. The grocery store may requestinformation from the distribution network for identity information ofitems that are currently in the distribution network. This way, thetime-sensitive or limited-time offer may be directed to those who arecurrently scheduled to receive items related to or associated with thetime-sensitive or limited-time offer. In some embodiments, thelimited-time offer may be a physical item, such as mail, delivered tospecific recipients. In some embodiments, the limited-time offer may becommunicated to recipients via a digital communication, a phone call, orother communications collateral can be directed to those who arecurrently scheduled to receive the items associated with thetime-sensitive or limited-time offer.

The BI module 132 may analyze item identifiers at various points orlevels within the distribution network. The BI module 132 may identifyitems at the point of intake into the distribution network, and transmitthe identity of the items or item categories to a central memory uponreceipt. In some embodiments, the BI module 132 may determine theidentity of items at a regional or centralized distribution hub. In someembodiments, the distribution network identifies the items at a unitdistribution level, that is, at a distribution facility near the pointof delivery. Thus, the BI module 132 can provide item identifications ortypes at multiple levels, or the BI module 132 can agglomerateidentification or type information for defined geographic areas at acentralized processor and provide local, regional, national, or globalinformation.

The BI module 132 may comprise a portal through which a third partyinterested in tract level information, or information at any level ofgranularity, can make requests for the distribution network to providespecific data regarding a block, tract, or other geographical area. Uponreceiving a specific request, the BI module 132 can evaluate or analyzestored item identity and associated recipient information to identifytrends, identify concentrations of certain types of items, and conductcomparisons between separate geographic areas, such as between tracts orgroups of tracts to respond to the specific request. For example, a cardealership may wish to know which areas in a city or metropolitan areahave higher car ownership rates or which are more likely to drive aspecific make of car. The car dealership may access the BI module 132via the portal 140 to look for or request this information. Thedistribution network can then evaluate the identities or origins ofitems delivered to recipients within the city or metropolitan area. Thedistribution network may identify items such as car payment notices,repair shop communications, advertisements for cars, parcels deliveredfrom auto parts stores or automobile related retailers, and otherautomobile related items. The distribution network compiles thisinformation and can provide a response to the specific request to thecar dealership. In some embodiments, the distribution network can give arequester access to anonymized or de-identified block or tract levelinformation in the neutral “sandbox” environment which would allowrequesters to perform their own searching through distribution networkdata.

In some embodiments, the BI module 132 compiles information receivedfrom data sources other than item identity or sender identity. Forexample, the BI module 132 can receive information which identifieswhich residences or business are not receiving any deliveries due tobeing vacant, by resident request, or for a variety of other reasons.The distribution network can provide information regarding housingvacancies, business vacancies, to agencies interested in suchinformation. By evaluating historical and current vacancy rates, the BImodule 132 is able to provide vacancy trends. Similarly, by evaluatingthe historical number of addresses or destinations and comparing to theincrease in delivery addresses or destinations in a particulargeographic area (due to new construction, zoning, or other factors), thedistribution network can identify trends in growing residential and/orcommercial areas. Thus, in the case of the U.S. Postal Service, thedistribution network can identify trends in population growth or loss,or other demographics for block, tract, state, region, zone, ZIP code,distribution area, district or national level, or any other desiredarea.

The housing and commercial vacancy or occupancy rates may be beneficialto government agencies, utilities, commercial retailers and others whocan derive value in knowing population trends on block, tract, or otherlevels. For example, a utility may want to expand infrastructure to ablock or tract. By knowing how occupancy or population of the tract ischanging, the utility can make a more informed decision. As anotherexample, a commercial retailer may want to expand or build another storeor facility. The commercial retailer could request and/or obtaininformation from the BI module 132 regarding the fastest growing orshrinking tracts in a particular city, metropolitan area, state, etc.,via a “sandbox” application or via some other interface. With thisinformation, the commercial retailer can target its efforts on expansionand/or new construction of commercial sites in those which are growingmost rapidly.

These exemplary functions of the BI module 132 may also be performed byany other portion of the real-time tracking system 100, such as afunctional module 120 or an application module 130, without departingfrom the scope of the disclosure.

The foregoing description details certain embodiments of the systems,devices, and methods disclosed herein. It will be appreciated, however,that no matter how detailed the foregoing appears in text, the systems,devices, and methods can be practiced in many ways. As is also statedabove, it should be noted that the use of particular terminology whendescribing certain features or aspects of the development should not betaken to imply that the terminology is being re-defined herein to berestricted to including any specific characteristics of the features oraspects of the technology with which that terminology is associated.

The technology is operational with numerous other general purpose orspecial purpose computing system environments or configurations.Examples of well-known computing systems, environments, and/orconfigurations that may be suitable for use with the developmentinclude, but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers,hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems,microprocessor-based systems, programmable consumer electronics, networkPCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, distributed computingenvironments that include any of the above systems or devices, and thelike. As used herein, the terms system, server, and module can refer tosoftware applications, computers, network devices, databases, or otherhardware or software capable of performing the described function.Servers, systems, and modules may be embodied on standalone computers,networked computers, or may be embodied on other portions of thereal-time tracking system 100. Description of a component as a server,module, or a system does not limit the component thereto.

As used herein, instructions refer to computer-implemented steps forprocessing information in the system. Instructions can be implemented insoftware, firmware or hardware and include any type of programmed stepundertaken by components of the system.

A microprocessor may be any conventional general purpose single- ormulti-chip microprocessor such as a Pentium® processor, a Pentium® Proprocessor, a 8051 processor, a MIPS® processor, a Power PC® processor,or an Alpha® processor. In addition, the microprocessor may be anyconventional special purpose microprocessor such as a digital signalprocessor or a graphics processor. The microprocessor typically hasconventional address lines, conventional data lines, and one or moreconventional control lines.

The system may be used in connection with various operating systems suchas Linux®, UNIX® or Microsoft Windows®.

The system control may be written in any conventional programminglanguage such as C, C++, BASIC, Pascal, or Java, and ran under aconventional operating system. C, C++, BASIC, Pascal, Java, and FORTRANare industry standard programming languages for which many commercialcompilers can be used to create executable code. The system control mayalso be written using interpreted languages such as Perl, Python orRuby.

Those of skill will further recognize that the various illustrativelogical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described inconnection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented aselectronic hardware, software stored on a computer readable medium andexecutable by a processor, or combinations of both. To clearlyillustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, variousillustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have beendescribed above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether suchfunctionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon theparticular application and design constraints imposed on the overallsystem. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality invarying ways for each particular application, but such embodimentdecisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from thescope of the present development.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits describedin connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implementedor performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signalprocessor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), afield programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device,discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or anycombination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein.A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in thealternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration.

If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on ortransmitted over as one or more instructions or code on acomputer-readable medium. The steps of a method or algorithm disclosedherein may be implemented in a processor-executable software modulewhich may reside on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable mediaincludes both computer storage media and communication media includingany medium that can be enabled to transfer a computer program from oneplace to another. A storage media may be any available media that may beaccessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, suchcomputer-readable media may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or otheroptical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storagedevices, or any other medium that may be used to store desired programcode in the form of instructions or data structures and that may beaccessed by a computer. Also, any connection can be properly termed acomputer-readable medium. Disk and disc, as used herein, includescompact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc(DVD), floppy disk, and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce datamagnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media. Additionally, the operations of a method oralgorithm may reside as one or any combination or set of codes andinstructions on a machine readable medium and computer-readable medium,which may be incorporated into a computer program product.

The foregoing description details certain embodiments of the systems,devices, and methods disclosed herein. It will be appreciated, however,that no matter how detailed the foregoing appears in text, the systems,devices, and methods can be practiced in many ways. As is also statedabove, it should be noted that the use of particular terminology whendescribing certain features or aspects of the development should not betaken to imply that the terminology is being re-defined herein to berestricted to including any specific characteristics of the features oraspects of the technology with which that terminology is associated.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and changes may be made without departing from the scopeof the described technology. Such modifications and changes are intendedto fall within the scope of the embodiments. It will also be appreciatedby those of skill in the art that parts included in one embodiment areinterchangeable with other embodiments; one or more parts from adepicted embodiment can be included with other depicted embodiments inany combination. For example, any of the various components describedherein and/or depicted in the Figures may be combined, interchanged orexcluded from other embodiments.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singularterms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from theplural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as isappropriate to the context and/or application. The varioussingular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sakeof clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, termsused herein are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,”etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if aspecific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such anintent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence ofsuch recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid tounderstanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of theintroductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claimrecitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed toimply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinitearticles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing suchintroduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “atleast one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use ofdefinite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, evenif a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitlyrecited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitationshould typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number(e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without othermodifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or morerecitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a conventionanalogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in generalsuch a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the artwould understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one ofA, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have Aalone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where aconvention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, ingeneral such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill inthe art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at leastone of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that haveA alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be furtherunderstood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive wordand/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in thedescription, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplatethe possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, orboth terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood toinclude the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety. To the extent publications and patents or patentapplications incorporated by reference contradict the disclosurecontained in the specification, the specification is intended tosupersede and/or take precedence over any such contradictory material.

The term “comprising” as used herein is synonymous with “including,”“containing,” or “characterized by,” and is inclusive or open-ended anddoes not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.

All numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, reaction conditions,and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understoodas being modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly,unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth inthe specification and attached claims are approximations that may varydepending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by thepresent development. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limitthe application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of theclaims, each numerical parameter should be construed in light of thenumber of significant digits and ordinary rounding approaches. The abovedescription discloses several methods and materials of the presentdevelopment. This development is susceptible to modifications in themethods and materials, as well as alterations in the fabrication methodsand equipment. Such modifications will become apparent to those skilledin the art from a consideration of this disclosure or practice of thedevelopment disclosed herein. Consequently, it is not intended that thisdevelopment be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, butthat it cover all modifications and alternatives coming within the truescope and spirit of the development as embodied in the attached claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for operating a distribution networkcomprising: a scanner configured to scan a computer readable deliverycode on a plurality of items in a distribution network to generate scandata, wherein, the computer readable delivery code includes a senderidentifier, wherein the sender identifier on each of the plurality ofitems is associated with the sender of the item on which the computerreadable delivery code is located, and wherein the computer readabledelivery code further comprises delivery information for the pluralityof items; a data repository in communication with the scanner, whereinthe data repository is configured to store the delivery information; aprocessor in communication with the data repository configured tocategorize the scanned plurality of items into a plurality of categoriesbased on the sender information associated with the plurality of items;an interface configured to receive a user request for the deliveryinformation for items categorized into a specified category selectedfrom the plurality of categories and communicate the request fordelivery information to the processor; and wherein the processor, inresponse to the request for delivery information for items categorizedinto the specified category, is configured to generate a plurality ofcomputer readable codes and send the plurality of computer readablecodes to the user.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the scan datafurther comprises geographical information for intended destinations forthe plurality of items.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein categorizingthe scanned plurality of items into a plurality of categories furthercomprises defining a block.
 4. The system of claim 2, whereincategorizing the scanned plurality of items into a plurality ofcategories further comprises associating the delivery information with ageographical location of delivery destinations of the plurality ofitems.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein categorizing the scannedplurality of items into a plurality of categories comprises generatingdemographic information characterizing intended recipients for theplurality of items.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein categorizing thescanned plurality of items into a plurality of categories furthercomprises associating delivery information with order historyinformation characterizing a past delivery of a distribution item. 7.The system of claim 1, wherein categorizing the scanned plurality ofitems into a plurality of categories further comprises associating thesender identifier with a sender category.
 8. A method for operating adistribution network comprising: scanning computer readable deliverycodes on a plurality of items to generate scan data, wherein thecomputer readable delivery code includes a sender identifier, andwherein the sender identifier on each of the plurality of items isassociated with the sender of the item on which the computer readabledelivery code is located, and wherein the computer readable deliverycode further comprises delivery information for the plurality of items;storing the delivery information in a data repository; generating aninterface; receiving at the interface a request for delivery informationfor items categorized into a specified category from a user; identifyingdelivery information associated with items categorized into thespecified category; characterizing, using a processor, the scannedplurality of items to generate delivery information for the plurality ofitems categorized into the specified category based on the senderidentifier; generating, using the processor, a plurality of computerreadable codes based on the user request for delivery information forthe selected items; and sending the plurality of computer readable codesto the user.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the scan data furthercomprises geographical information for intended destinations for theplurality of items.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein generatingdelivery information for the plurality of items categorized into thespecified category further comprises defining a block.
 11. The method ofclaim 9, wherein generating delivery information for the plurality ofitems categorized into the specified category further comprisesassociating delivery information with geographical information.
 12. Themethod of claim 8, wherein generating delivery information for theplurality of items categorized into the specified category comprisesgenerating item category information characterizing the plurality ofitems.
 13. The method of claim 8, wherein generating deliveryinformation for the plurality of items categorized into the specifiedcategory comprises generating demographic information characterizingintended recipients for the plurality of items.
 14. The method of claim13, wherein generating delivery information for the plurality of itemscategorized into the specified category further comprises associatingdelivery information with order history information characterizing apast delivery of a distribution item.
 15. The method of claim 8, whereinthe scan data further comprises sender information.
 16. The method ofclaim 15, wherein generating delivery information for the plurality ofitems categorized into the specified category for the item furthercomprises associating the sender information with a sender category. 17.A system for providing access to a distribution network comprising:means for scanning computer readable delivery codes on a plurality ofitems to generate scan data, wherein the computer readable delivery codeincludes a sender identifier, and wherein the sender identifier on eachplurality of items is associated with the sender of the item on whichthe computer readable delivery code is located, and wherein the computerreadable delivery code further comprises delivery information for theplurality of items; means for storing the delivery information in a datarepository; means for generating a plurality of categories andassociating the plurality of items into one or more categories based onthe sender identifier from the scan data; means for generating aninterface; means for receiving at the interface a request for deliveryinformation for items associated with a specified category from a user;means for identifying delivery information associated with items in thespecified category; means for characterizing, using a processor, theplurality of items to generate delivery information for the plurality ofitems based on the sender identifier and specified category; means forgenerating, using the processor, a plurality of computer readable codesbased on the user request; and means for sending the plurality ofcomputer readable codes to the user.